Sex in Medieval Times

Sex in Medieval Times

         Augustine is thought to be the only Church Father who has wrote in great detail about church and sex (Finn, 47).  He argued that marriage served to restrain and focus on sexual desires and thoughts, which he claimed to be a dangerous and destructive human energy that is capable of tearing society apart (Finn, 49).  Even so, Augustine proposes marriage to be a sacrament, in addition to fidelity and offspring (Finn, 52).  It is thought that his teachings are what developed Christian thoughts on marriage.  In Western Christendom; marriage was formed by the consent of both parties.  Marital promises followed by sexual intercourse created an indissoluble marriage (Karras, 1).  Even then, during the medieval times,  any extramarital relationships were looked down upon and considered as an adulterous sin.  Christian couples who were married accordingly with the secular and familial world were considered to be validly married (Finn, 46).  It was during the twelfth century that christian marriages was not only found in church but also increasingly prevalent under ecclesiastic jurisdiction (Finn, 47).  Marriage was solely seen as a process to reproduce.  Anyone who indulged in sex with the use of contraceptives was seen as engaging in "lustful cruelty" (Finn 63).  Peter Lombard considered a couple of this special category as "fornicators" and no longer "spouses" (Finn, 63).  In The Book of Margery Kempe Margery is a woman who would be considered as a fallen woman who has transformed into a fornicator rather than a spouse for being tempted by desire. 

        Although Margery seems to be mad or unstable she only portrays reality through her eyes of society's own instability.  Was there any particular reason why her husband John did not go "mad" or crazy as Margery appeared to be?  She was a victim of rape, yet she felt as if she were the criminal.  Rape was not considered if it occurred in a marriage.  Even today there is still controversy whether rape is committed within a marriage.  Read "Sex, Dementia, and a Husband on Trial at Age 78" to observe that the line of rape in marriage is still blurry.  During the medieval ages, women were held accountable for any sexual accounts.  However, men were held accountable for their personality characteristics rather than the sexual morality standards society created.  Margery goes through great distress when she becomes tempted by lustful thoughts.  Unfortunately, today there are still double standards. 

         

         

Resources:

Finn, Thomas F. "Sex And Marriage In The Sentences Of Peter Lombard." Theological Studies 72.1 (2011): 

           41. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

Karras, Ruth Mazo1. "The Regulation Of Sexuality In The Late Middle Ages: England And France." Speculum 86.4 

           (2011): 1010-1039. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 28 Apr. 2016.